Canal-boat propulsion



(No Model.) Z'Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. BLMER, Jr. CANAL BGAT PROPULSION.

No. 559,271.` Patented Apr. 28, 1896.

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/ I ZI ATTO/NVE YS UNITED STATES VILLIAM ELMER, JR., OF TRENTON, NENVJERSEY.

CANAL-BOAT PROPULSION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 559,271, dated April28, 1896.

i Application filed December 16, 1895. Serial No. "72,301. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ELMER, Jr., of Trenton, in the county ofMercer and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Canal-Boat Propul* sion, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to electrical methods of canalboat haulage, andthe object is to provide an easily-operated motor, moving on apractically level plane, whereby the power required for its ownpropulsion is reduced to a minimum. Motors for canal-boat haulage haveheretofore been made in which the motor runs on a suspended cable. Agreat objection to such device is quite obvious-that is, too much of theavailable power is used to haul the weight up the grade or from thecenter of a span to the post-and, further, in the overhead cabletension'devices are required at intervals, which make the plant veryexpensive.

In carrying out my invention l employ aV truck having a suitableelectric motormounted on it, receiving energy from a trolley-wire, andalso carrying a rotating sheave, around which a suspended traction-ropeis engaged, whereby when the sheave is rotated by means of the motor thetruck will be moved along on the track arranged alongside of the canal,preferably on the level tow-path about ten feet from the bank, so thatroom will be provided for animals drawing boats.

Reference is to be had to the accompanyin drawings, forming apart ofthis specication, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the iigures.

Figure l is a side elevation of a motor and truck embodying my inventionwith the casing in section. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the motor withthe casing in section; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the motor,and showing :means for support-ing a trolley-wire and a traction-rope.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a narrow-gage railway extendedalong the towpath A of the canal and suiiiciently far from the bank toallow for the passage of animals that may be drawing boats.

A2 indicates a truck, here shown as having four wheels to engage thetrack-rails, and

upon the platform of this truck a suitable casing A3 may be placed toprotect the motor from the weather. The motor may be of any desiredconstruction. I have here shown it as comprising field-pieces a, mountedon the truck-platform, in which the armature a ro tates. This armatureis preferably provided with two commutatore a2. The motor is energizedfrom awire a3, suspended from hangers a4, extended from poles A4,planted at suitable intervals along the towpath. The wire CL3 mayreceive its current from any desired source. The current is carried tothe motor through the trolley-pole a5, and the return mayV be throughthe tracks in the usual manner. A switch or controller maybe placed in aboxing a6 on the truck.

B is a worm-shaft havingbearings in blocks mounted on thetruck-platform, and mounted to slide longitudinally on the worm-shaft,but adapted, by a feather-and-groove connection, to rotate with theshaft, is a sleeve B', upon which is rigidly secured a large gear-wheelb and a small gear-wheel b. Rigidly mounted on the armature-shaft b2 isa small gear-wheel b3, adapted to be engaged with the gear-wheel l), andalso a large gear-wheel b4, designed for engagement with the smallgear-wheel o. A pivoted shifting-lever b5 has its bifurcate end engagedbetween collars on the sleeve B', and the other end of this leverprojects through an opening in the side wall of the casing A3. By thisconstruction of change-gearing it is obvious that the speed of the truckmay be quickly changed as circumstances may require.

The worm' on the worm-shaft B engages with a worm-wheel C, mounted on avertical shaft c, to which is also attached a pinion c", meshing with agear c2, mounted on a verti cal powershaft C. Attached to the shaft C isa traction-sheave C2, around which, by one or more turns, is engaged atraction-cable C3.

t This traction-cable is anchored at its ends and rests loosely atintervals on brackets C4, attached to the poles A4. The traction-sheaveC2 projects at one side through an opening in the casing A3, and forwardand rearward of this projected part are supporting-rollers c3,

the hook ends c4 of the brackets C4, so that in which,with the sheave,are above theplane of IOO traveling forward the cable will be liftedfree of the brackets to allow the motor to pass.

In operation the tow-line from a boat is secured to the truck in anydesired manner, and when the motor is set in motion to rotate the sheavethe truck is moved along by the taking on and paying off of thetraction-cable.

I have described the track A as being on the tow-path; but I wish it tobe understood that the track may be elevated without departing from thespirit of my invention, a main feature being to provide a practicallylevel roadway, and, further, the track may be located on either bank ofthe canal.

Having thus described my invention, I

ELMER EWING GREEN, JOHN II. REDFERN.

